Our Florida vacation.....according to iPhone :o)

We started out Friday around 12:00 PM on the road to Las Vegas. We chose to fly from there because we could get a direct flight and it's only about an hour and a half further than our usual airport.

The kids enjoyed the aquarium at The Silverton










































































I discovered that a few days before Wil decided to cut his hair because it was "puffy and ugly" It left him with a few bald spots on the back of his head that he swears aren't really there...the camera is lying.


We took a ride down to the Excalibur and let the kids run wild in the game area.





A quick dinner at the Excalibur food court.



Then a ride down the strip to see the lights and the action and it was back to the hotel. Rachel and I made a monster shirt for Wyatt and then we all watched Shrek 2 in my bed before it was sleepy time.

The next morning Wil had a huge meltdown at breakfast and Danny had to take him to the room to talk to him (yes, he's 13 not 3 lol)

I snapped a quick shot of this Marge Simpson Gelato at the Silverton Diner.

And no, I did not try it..ick!

After breakfast it was time to catch the shuttle to the airport. We had so many people and so much luggage it literally took a whole shuttle for us and a suburban for our luggage. Issues lol

Even though he had his DVD player, his game boy, his books, his magazines, etc. etc. Wil chose to sit like this for most of the plane ride.



Yes, he insisted on sitting in the window seat too.

We got to Florida in the evening about 6 PM and by the time we did the baggage, rental cars and drive to the Villas it was late and we were TIRED!! Did some quick grocery shopping so we would have breakfast food, grabbed some dinner and hit the hay.

The next morning I was up bright and early and enjoying a bagel and OJ on my porch. Yep, here's the view!!




The trip was filled with fun, sun, kayaking, fishing, relaxing, late nights and the kids coming through like locusts.





Danny loved kayaking with the dolphins, who just so happened to stop by our place every day morning and evening for our own personal dolphin show!! And All you can eat crab legs night at Cricketers. He ate 6 plates worth!!







(Wil had the ribs) We also tried deep fried oreos...I'm not so sure I loved them but I didn't hate them either.

Our villa had these flowers all over the place...not sure what they are but they smelled like Plumeria or something...



Thanksgiving dinner was spent at Kelly's...they had turducen...didn't care for it so I'm making my own turkey this week sometime! lol



Did lots of family pictures on Honeymoon island..more to come!



I'm going to miss the cuddle time with this lil guy (Who we called Hangover Baby all week since he spent so much time in the baby carrier)



And the saddest thing of all...flying home...boooo



All in all a great trip...minus the clothing meltdowns from Wil and Michelle...and David staying out all night and Mom being pissed off at him..it was fairly quite!

Looking forward to the next family trip!

Monday Morning Blues and a new *Issue*

It was a long weekend....and I think I'll leave it at that!

Yesterday I did however get my room somewhat picked up. I can walk in now!! I've got 3 huge boxes of new stuff I need to sort and put away yet, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I don't plan on buying anything for awhile. (at least until next week, yanno lol)

There's a new issue up over at Paper Issues be sure to stop by and check it out. There's a FABULOUS prize and the challenge is super simple. All you have to do is use scallops. Link up your creation today!!

Here are some recent layouts I've created with scallops.







I can't wait to see what you come up with for this challenge!!

Have a great week!

The How I spent my Birthday Post (almost a month late lol!)

3 1/2 weeks ago it was Wil's Birthday, and then mine. One day apart. Yep.

I was up at 5 AM on Saturday Oct. 2nd making Wil's "Lemon Cookie Cake" (see bottom of post for recipe) I also needed to wrap presents, finish presents, etc. I made this fun pancake breakfast for him. He walked in and said "That's tight". Which translates roughly to "Thanks Mom, you're the best and I couldn't ask for a better birthday breakfast. I appreciate you being up at the butt crack of dawn to make this for me before my 8 AM game." (At least that's how *I* translated it...)



He then opened a couple new presents from us...Metal Cleats (Size 10 1/2, yeah) and new sandals to wear to the field. Got him ready to go and sent Danny to drop him off while I finished getting ready.

Loaded up snack (it was our snack day naturally)gatorade, hot cheetos, granola bars and cupcakes. We had a good game and the weather was gorgeous! Yankees won, of course and we ran home to change before the party.

Since we were also sharing our party with Michelle we were headed to my Brothers house...picked up Pizza and El Pollo Loco on the way there and had a fabulous party with the family.



Wil got a ton of clothes, hats, a remote control car, giftcards and a new phone. We got him a green Pantech Pursuit. He's beyond thrilled with it!

I got some giftcards to Barnes and Noble, the iPhone 4, clothes, candles and an awesome new cookie sheet and brownie pan.

The next day for my Birthday was spent relaxing, watching TV a little scrapping..mostly doing a whole lot of nothing!

Now for the recipe that's quickly becoming a family favorite.

1 box Lemon Cake Mix (With pudding if it's available)
1 8 oz tub of Cool Whip
1 Egg

Mix together in a large bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes or longer. (I've left it overnight and it's fine) Fill a bowl with powdered sugar and powder your hands with the Sugar. Form small balls and roll them in the powdered sugar, coating well. Place them on a greased cookie sheet and bake 8-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Cookies are done when the edges are slightly browned. Let cool for 1 minute before removing them from the pan and then continue cooling on a wire rack.

For the cookie cake I placed the balls approx. 1/2 inch apart on a greased pizza pan and baked for 25 ish minutes. The recipe made one "pizza" and a dozen cookies.

Enjoy!

Teresa Collins and SEI *Family Album*

Earlier this year my Sister in laws Sister (follow me? lol) had a little girl. She posted some FABULOUS photos on facebook that I was just dying to work with so I had her send some to me!

When I first made this album I didn't love it. Since then it's grown on me quite a bit!! I used an awesome album from SEI and used some Teresa Collins paper.



Finished it off with some Basic Grey stickers, ribbon and a 7 Gypsies charm!

Thanks for looking and Happy Saturday!

I *heart* MME Blackbird!

I really really do!! Every October I feel this rush of creativity and MUST alter things for halloween. This year was no exception and the line I chose to create with was MME Blackbird.

First up are a couple cards *gasp*! Yes, I made cards!!



This one says "from the Boo Crew" on the inside hehehe

Next are these fun Bottle Caps from Maya Road. I used a magnet on the back of them to turn them into refrigerator magnets. The guys and I had fun moving them around each day in a different arrangement, but I think this ended up being my favorite.


Last but not least is this Haunted House I made, also Maya Road and MME!

It was featured this week on the My Minds Eye Blog!! You can see more photos of it HERE

Have a great weekend!! We have a double header Saturday and birthday parties on Sunday.

She's Crafty..

Last year I was contacted by the super talented and sweet Becky Fleck of Page Maps to create a layout for her new book Page Maps 2. I was beyond excited as this is my first official publication in a Mag/book!

FINALLY, I can share the layout I created for her..




It's goofy, it's silly, it's typical me right?! I had just gotten the Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend line and was oh so in love with it!

I received my Layout back last week and then this week I got the book!! I'm still beaming over Becky's praise and really just the opportunity to be included with her and all the other talented ladies in this book, especially my friend Mandy Starner!

Anyways, here you can see my layout in the book!!






If you're a scrapper make sure to pick it up, I can be found on page 60 and be sure to check out my mini-bio in the back of the book as well!

It's quiet in here...

If you don't have children...I don't think you appreciate the quiet like a Mother does...I'm just sayin'!

It's been a busy summer (as usual!). Although, when don't I keep myself busy? We drove 2500 miles to and from Idaho...Here are some of my fav photos from the trip.

Random Farm house taken at 55 MPH, because Danny wouldn't hardly STOP for anything.


Grandpa and Wil


Wil trespassing in someone's Wheat


Spongebobs house (Look Danny stopped and I was so confused I took a crooked picture lol)


Wil Fishing


And so many more...It was a long drive but I'm glad we made it! Wil says the best part was shopping. hehehe

This weekend I had Little League Sign ups and what a nice surprise I came home to, I won an award! Don Ferrarsse gives out a volunteer of the month award. My Mom nominated me and I won a $75 gift card to Outback Steak House....Yum!

Wil's been at his Grandmothers since Wednesday, enjoying the break but not enjoying the hard work to get him back into his routine before school starts on Monday.

Well, enjoy your week!!

This is how we do it..

Wil has been talking non stop about these pancakes...seriously lol He didn't see me making them and can't figure it out. I've seen people use cookie cutters and pancake molds but I just put the batter into a frosting bag and piped it onto the griddle in the letter/shape I wanted. I did a Star and heart for Wil and a Happy face and heart for Danny.






Yes, I call my husband Bun lol. It started as Hunny, then Hunny Bunny, then Bunny, and Bun for short.

When we were little, my Mom used to tell us she made us special pancakes...my brother got puppies and rockets..and I got kitties and flowers. Oddly enough, they all looked round? lol

I love weekend breakfast time with my family...it's special..try it!